-LRB- CNN -RRB- Craigslist reports about 80 million ads on its site each month , so even if you have n't met a stranger to buy or sell something online , chances are you know someone who has .

The overwhelming majority of transactions go smoothly , but the site has a history of being co-opted by criminals on occasion .

A couple from Georgia was traveling to a Craigslist transaction last month when they left their suburban Atlanta home in hopes of buying a 1966 Ford Mustang . They did everything right -- they went together , and they told their family they were going to the transaction .

Yet the bodies of Elrey `` Bud '' Runion , and his wife , June , were found January 26 , police said . A South Georgia man has been charged with murder in their deaths .

In a separate incident Friday , two men in Georgia met a seller to purchase a dog . The seller drew a gun on them in an attempted robbery , but one of the buyers was carrying a handgun and fatally shot the seller , police said . The investigation is ongoing .

The recent incidents should remind those engaged in this type of online commerce that it pays to be vigilant . So what can you do to make sure you do n't fall prey to ne'er - do-wells next time you respond to an online ad ?

Philip Holloway is a law enforcement adviser and defense attorney with some tips on things you should remember when buying and selling goods online :

10 . Do n't reveal personal information

Remember this is a business transaction , so never reveal Social Security numbers , home or business addresses or banking information .

9 . Keep your cell phone close

Have a cell phone in your hand during the entire transaction and be ready to call 911 at the first sign of trouble .

8 . Do n't use your personal email

Use an anonymous email address to communicate with the buyer or seller .

7 . Disable caller ID

Disable caller ID when calling the buyer or seller on the phone . Most cell phone and landline carriers offer this by dialing * 67 before making the outgoing call .

6 . Do n't pay in cash

Do not accept cash and do not offer to pay in cash . Use a cashier 's check instead and make it a non-negotiable term of the transaction .

5 . If it 's a high-priced transaction , do it at a bank

The higher the price of the item involved , the higher the risk of the transaction . Conduct these transactions at a banking facility so a banking professional can confirm the funds have been delivered successfully .

4 . Always meet during the day

Never conduct your transactions at night .

3 . Never meet at home

Find a neutral site to meet -- never at your or someone else 's home .

2 . Tell someone

Tell a trusted friend or family member what you 're doing and have another trusted friend or family member accompany you to the transaction .

1 . Always meet in a public place

Most police departments will be happy to accommodate you , and they are open 24/7 .

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A Georgia couple was slain last month as they traveled to make a Craigslist transaction

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Two men in Georgia were involved in a separate , fatal incident early Friday

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Law enforcement adviser and defense attorney explains how to stay safe